San Diego County Biographies
JOSEPH F. SUPPLE
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
one of the leading ship builders of San Diego, was born at Lyons, New York,
February 26, 1854. His mother was a native of New York and the father, who was a
shoemaker, was of Irish descent. At the early age of eleven years Joseph went to
Buffalo, New York, and was apprenticed to a ship-carpenter, R.J.I. Cooper, for
whom he worked four years, and at the age of seventeen years he started his own
yard in boat-building at Buffalo. He built mainly pleasure steamboats, from 50
to 150 feet deck measurement; also many small boats and yachts. Owing to failing
health he came to San Diego in 1887 and opened a ship-yard at the foot of D
street, and built the steamer Roseville, which was the first steamer ever built
in this city, a boat 67 feet long, 18 feet beam, 6 feet hold, registering 37
tons, and now running between San Diego and Roseville on the bay. He also built
the sloop yacht Climate, 28 feet long, 10 feet beam, cabin yacht; also rebuilt
the steam tug Rover, and has constructed many small boats. Mr. Supple conceived
the idea of and built the schooner garbage scow, which has proved a great
success, in economically disposing of the city garbage by taking it far out to
sea, and by utilizing the wind, instead of steam, the old method, thus saving
the city about $300 per month.
Mr. Supple came to San Diego for his health, but is now a well, strong man and
cannot speak too enthusiastically of the climate of this place.
An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San
Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower
California, from the Earliest Period of Occupancy to the Present Time.... -
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. pp 109-110